Press Releases

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois property owners will get much-needed tax relief thanks to a measure that passed in the Illinois Senate today.

State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) spoke in support of the measure during the Senate floor debate and urged her Republican colleagues to start standing up to Governor Rauner and do the right thing for the people of Illinois.

“We voted for property tax relief last week, and only two Republican senators supported the measure. We voted on a Republican budget plan, and the Republicans wouldn’t support it. Today, we again voted for property tax relief, and only three Republicans supported it. The Senate Republicans have shown time and again that they aren’t even brave enough to vote for their own ideas. It’s absurd,” Bush said.

“These are the same people who tell the Democrats to stand up to Speaker Madigan. He isn’t dictating our decisions. The Senate Democrats have repeatedly stood up and taken politically risky votes because it’s the right thing to do. It’s about time for Republicans to walk the walk and stand up to Governor Rauner, who has done nothing but derail budget negotiations and move the goal posts every time the Senate passes the reforms he’s spent the past two years demanding. Enough is enough.”

Senate Bill 484 establishes a freeze for levy years 2017 and 2018 for school districts. With its passage, Senate Democrats have now passed pension reform, education funding reform, local government consolidation, property tax freezes, term limits on legislative leaders and a balanced budget plan – all of which Rauner said must be passed before he’ll sign a budget.

“The Senate has passed a balanced budget and all of Governor Rauner’s non-budgetary reforms,” Bush said. “After two years of Rauner’s fake governing, it’s time for the governor to drop the folksy act, quit making excuses and passing blame and actually start doing the job he was elected to do.”